Corset-clasp



(No Model.)

0. F. ALLEN & J. E. DOOLITTLB. CORSET GLAsP.

No. 439,231. Patented. 001;. 28, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OHAUNOEY F. ALLEN, OF VOODBURY, AND JAMES E. DOOLITTLE, OF BRIDGE- PORT, CONNECTICUT.

CORSET-CLAS P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,231, dated October 28, 1890.

Application filed March 31, 1890, Serial No. 346,008. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, CHAUNCEY F. ALLEN and JAMES E. DOOLITTLE, citizens of the United States, the former residing at Woodbury, Litchfield county, and State of Connecticut, and the latter residing at Bridgeport, Fairfield county, and State of Connecticut, have invented new and useful Improvements in Corset Clasps or Fasteners, of which the following, taken in connection with the drawings herewith accompanying, is a specification.

Our invention relates to corset clasps or fastenin gs, and more particularly to that class in which a series of clasps or fastenings are held in detachable connection with their engaging studs or projections by a single hook or locking device in such manner that all the fastenings may be detached or operated simultaneously; and our invention consists in the construction of the fastening device, as will hereinafter be described in detail, and pointed out in the claim.

In the drawing, the figure represents a pair of corset-steels provided with our improved fastenings thereon.

To explain in detail, A A represent a pair ofcorset-stee1s, so called, consisting of strips of springy metal which are adapted to be secured in the front edges of a pair of corsets in the usual manner, the same being detached in the present instance to more clearly illustrate our invention. One of said steels is shown as provided on its face with posts or projections a, having enlarged heads, and the other or opposite steel is shown provided with our improved clasps or fastenings, which consist of a supporting-plate a, provided with a hook-shaped arm a and a spring-arm a the latter extending toward and adjacent to the end of the arm forming a stud-receiving opening a and a vertically-arranged exit-passage or opening a, the same being separated by a nose or projection located on the end of said arm a which forms a yielding or movable barrier between said receiving-opening and exit-passage. The stud or projection is adapted to be inserted through the opening a and then drawn past said nose or projection on the arm a (the latter yielding sulficiently for the passage of the same) and into the vertically-arranged exit-passage a said nose or projection being adapted to hold the studs or projections laterallystationaryin said exit-passage and prevent their moving back and slipping through the opening a Said studs or projections are adjustably locked in a vertical stationary position in their said position in the exit-passage or opening a by means of a locking device B, which may be located'either at the upper or lower end of the supportingsteels A, and consists, in the instance shown, of a plate secured in a fixed position on its supporting-steel provided with a slot or opening horizontally arranged therein at right angles to the steel A, and is provided with an outer connecting slot or opening for the admission of post or projection on the adjacent steel into said horizontally-arranged slot or opening, and which, when located therein, is held in a vertical stationary position, as will appear obvious, thereby locking its supporting-steel and the several studs or projections thereon in a vertical stationary position, which latter are held stationary laterally in a manner as hereinbefore described, thus locking said steels in an adj ustable fixed position in their relation to each other. We do not, however, wish to be understood as confining ourselves to the particular form of locking device represented at B for holding the supporting-steels in a fixed vertical position in their relation to each other for the purpose as set forth, as it is obvious that other suitable means might be employed to accomplish the same purpose and without departing from the spirit of our invention.

The manner of claspin g or fastening the corsets together is follows: The upper post or projection 60 is first connected with its hook or locking device B. The remainder of the studs or projections are then inserted through the openings at a in the clasps or fasteners and drawn or pressed passed the end of the spring-arm a into the passage or opening a and are there held in a fixed or stationaryposition in a manner as before described. To unfasten the corset the upper post or projection is first disengaged from its locking device B, thereby allowing the remainder of the posts or projections to disconnect from their retaining clasp or fastening simultaneously, as will be readily understood.

We do not Wish to be understood as confining ourselves to the particular form or construction of the hook arxn and spring-arm of the clasp or fastener, as shown, as it is obvious that slight changes might be made in the form of said hook-arm and a spring of different construction be made in lieu of the spring-arm, as shown, without departing from the spirit of our invention.

Having thus set forth our invention, what we claim. as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

The combination, with a steel provided with studs or projections, of a steel provided with fastening devices secured thereto for adj ustable connection with said studs or projections, consisting of a plate provided with the stud-receiving opening a, connecting vertically'arranged exit-passage a and spring-arm a formed integral therewith, provided with the nose or projection at its free end, forming a yielding barrier between said opening a and passage a and the lockin g device or hook for holding said studs and fastening devices in engagement, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

CHAUNOEY F. ALLEN. JAMES E. DOOLITTLE. Witnesses:

CHAS. F. DANE, JOSEPH M. CRANE. 

